Canada's Fun Economy Had a Big Year — and the Outdoors Won
Canadians spent $18.0 billion at amusement and recreation businesses in 2025, up 8.1% from 2024, Statistics Canada said Tuesday. But growth was uneven — golf, ski hills and gyms cashed in, while amusement parks and arcades barely moved.
Golf and Ski Hills Led the Way
Golf courses and country clubs took in $4.5 billion, up 8.9% — a quarter (25.1%) of the entire industry. Canadians played 79.3 million rounds of golf in 2025, the most in five years, and courses kept a 10.3% operating profit margin.
Ski hills had a bigger comeback. Revenue jumped 12.7% to $1.6 billion in a record 2024/2025 season — a turnaround from the weakest season since 2020/2021. Quebec (+$59.2 million) and British Columbia (+$54.2 million) posted the biggest dollar gains, and the profit margin widened to 14.3%.
Gyms Grew, Arcades Lagged
Fitness and recreational sports centres earned $6.1 billion, up 9.4%, and the number of fitness centres with employees was 6.0% higher in December 2025 than a year earlier. Their operating expenses rose 7.0% to $5.2 billion, with salaries, wages and benefits taking 38.1% of expenses.
The broad "other amusement and recreation" group drove most of the industry's growth, rising 8.5% to $16.9 billion. Amusement parks and arcades were the exception, inching up just 3.1% to $1.1 billion.
Statistics Canada warned weather volatility in 2026 could dampen outdoor recreation — though tourism spending on recreation and entertainment was 2.9% higher in the first half of 2026 than a year earlier.
The Twikup Take
Canadians are spending on fresh-air experiences — a round of golf, a ski day, a gym membership. Arcades and amusement parks were the one soft spot. Whether 2026's weather cooperates is the industry's next question.
Image: AI-generated illustration.